A Few Last Minute Costume Ideas

Happy Halloween!

Isn't today one of the best days? Always? I always love an excuse to dress up and act like a kid. And candy, candy is also good. If you're still looking for inspiration for a costume to wear out today or maybe for a party this weekend, I've gathered up a few fun and simple ideas for you!

+Take some inspiration from our costume last year (although these pictures were taken recently) and go as Mr and/or Ms Fox! All you need is a fox mask! I made ours with old cereal boxes (nice thin cardboard), paper, and Mod Podge. Try to dress as close to the characters as possible, but it doesn't have to be perfect! A mustard dress for Ms Fox and a plain button-up with a tie or bow-tie for Mr Fox will do. Here's an actual picture of us in costume from a party last Halloween:



+ If your in the mood for something a little more gory, Kara of As Always Kara shared an awesome (and super impressive) tutorial for zombie makeup. All you need is makeup for this one (in colors like grey, white, black, red, green, yellow, and blue) and some fake blood, so take a quick trip to the halloween store and give it a try!

+ This rag doll costume diy A Beautiful Mess shared a couple years ago is still one of my favorites. And you don't need an adorable daughter to pull it off with you (although it surely helps). The wig looks super quick and easy to make, just be sure to pair it with a dress, apron, fun tights, and red cheeks.

+ Lisette of Northern Belle Diaries recently shared a tutorial for her and her husbands costume, Salt and Pepper shakers. It is pretty adorable, and it really can't get easier if you are in crunch time.

+ If all else fails, one of my favorite last minute costume options is to dress as a feisty old lady. A friend of mine and I did this back in college, and we were two super stylish older gals. To get the look down, if you don't have any vintage dresses hanging around, take a quick trip to Goodwill or Salvation Army (or it's equivalent). You'll find everything you need there for pennies. I wore a shoulder padded floral dress, tan nylons, nude heels, huge chunky earrings, glasses, pearls, and an old cardigan. Added bonus: carry a big purse around full of hard candies and offer them to people. Be sure to tell everyone how much they've grown since you last saw them.

And lucky you, I found an old picture of above said costume:

Also, I should note I was not attempting to fist bump the camera in the above picture, but merely in the middle of my old lady grove dancing. Do you have any Halloween festivities planned for this weekend? What are you dressing as?

xx Emorie

Our Halloween Costume: PACMAN and MS PACMAN

^Excuse my face; Will likes to take pictures of me when I'm talking at him.^
This past Friday night our lovely friend Alfredo hosted a fun Halloween party (he also hosted this party) for a bunch of us at his place. I love dressing up with Will (last year we were Mr and Ms Fox, from Fantastic Mr Fox) and so I started brainstorming early ideas for what to do. My dream was to go as Daenerys Targaryn, but I decided that was going to be a little too ambitious and expensive. A few others I threw around were Helga and Arnold (from Hey Arnold) and Richie and Margot (from the Royal Tenenbaums) and Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan. Neither of us were really into any of those for some reason, and I eventually thought of a PACMAN theme. I then somehow convinced Will that wearing a giant foam costume around at a party was a good idea and started working on both costumes.

After a quick google search, I came across Julie Ann Art's post on the PACMAN costume's she made a couple years ago. I loved them. I followed her descriptions/instructions fairly closely but I did make some changes. I thought I'd share briefly how I went about making these costumes as well as some tips for working with and wearing styrofoam.

Materials Used                                        
+ Large piece of Foam Board
+ 4 Yards of Yellow Cotton Fabric
+ Red Felt Pieces
+ Black Cardstock Paper
+ Black Ribbon (for the straps)
+ Duct Tape
+ Black Duct Tape
+ Spray Adhesive
+ White Craft Glue and Mod Podge
+ Wire
+ Toothpicks

Method                                                    
I originally wanted to use thick cardboard for the frame, but we ended up selecting a large piece of foam board (insulation with foil on one side and plastic film on the other) from Lowe's. It ended up being more cost-effective and seemed sturdier. The large piece (that barely fit shoved in the back of our 4-Runner) we bought only cost $7.00 and was enough to make both costumes. I traced large circles onto it and cut them out with a box-cutter. I ended up also removing the foil and film coverings (on both sides) to make it easier to adhere fabric. I placed the foam circles down on the yellow fabric and cut pieces large enough to fully cover it (just the front, pulled over the edge and secured further onto the back side). I adhered the yellow fabric using a spray adhesive (Elmer's), spraying the fabric in sections and then pulling it tight against the foam. I let this sit a day just to be safe.

I finished each face before joining them. I cut the eyes out of black cardstock (and the whites of the eyes out of white cardstock). These adhere well to the fabric using either Mod Podge or more spray adhesive. Next I held the two sides up to both of our bodies and measured a comfortable distance for the two pieces to sit from eachother (you want to be able to move a little). I cut foam pieces (extra scraps from cutting out the circles) to fit here and form the mouth (two pieces for each pacman). I secured these rectangle pieces to each side using toothpicks (which I dipped in craft glue before sticking in the styrofoam) and lots and lots of duct tape. Once the glue had dried and it was secure, I covered the visible part of the mouth in black duct tape. I then took another piece of yellow fabric and secured it tight (as tight as I could) between the two sides-using spray adhesive-above the mouth I created, to give it a more dimensional look. The last step was adding red lips and a red bow to MS PACMAN, using red felt and spray adhesive. I secured ribbon inside the costume, to use as shoulder straps, using more duct tape.

Tips                                                        
+ Just DO NOT use any form of super glue. It will eat straight through any kind of foam. I learned this the hard way, trying to use E6000 glue to secure the two sides to the mouth pieces.
+ Make sure there is plenty of room around your hips before cutting the pieces to form the mouth.
+ Add wire to the back of the fabric you stretch between the two sides (above the mouth) if you want it to retain a rounded shape.



We had so much fun as PACMAN and MS PACMAN, even if we were bumping into people all night. There was even a costume contest, complete with a skeleton trophy, and we won! And look, I also made (and took to the party) a pretty, lopsided, delicious ghost cake.

Weekend Wears: Purple, Green and Gold

This was the busiest weekend I've had in a long time and I enjoyed every minute of it. Now that the weather is cooler, most weekends I have spent relaxing indoors curled up with a book, maybe venturing out to run a few errands or going on a walk or two. I like it that way, for the most part. These last few days were full of halloween festivities with friends, time with family, photo shoots, adventures to new parts of town, eating at a favorite restaurant, and grocery shopping. It was a nice change of pace.

Outfit Details:
Coat: Old Navy, last year (similar)
Scarf: Target (similar)
Shirt: Macy's/American Rag brand, a few years ago (similar)
Pants: Urban Outfitters
Bag: Target, old (similar / similar)
Shoes: 1318 Fashion

I mostly documented this outfit because I was wearing pants, which is rare, and I thought you might be interested in seeing how I style a pair. I've certainly never shared an outfit with you wearing them, which I think is funny. I mean I am usually in a dress or skirt (with tights these days), but not always. I will likely wear them more now that it's a bit chilly. But also, this was our first time out to a new shopping area in Meridian called The Village. It is a collection of buildings, centered around a central meeting area with a park (and cool fountains and fire pits!). The architecture seems to be European inspired, and there are lots of cute tree lined cobble streets. I thought it was pretty cool! It really was like its own little town in there. I can't wait until more of the shops and restaurants open. Is there a place to shop like that anywhere near you?

Oh, and um... please excuse my bed head.

Playing Photographer

My brother asked me to take a few pictures of him and his lady love just for fun, so the three of us went out on a little photo adventure yesterday. I had such a great time playing photographer for an evening. It may have been extra exciting for me because I got to use her lovely Canon Rebel for the shoot. These two are just so adorable/photogenic/fun, I had to share a few of my favorite shots with you. (I couldn't decide between b&w or color on that last one. It's my favorite.) Aren't they gorgeous? Talk about the perfect time of year for a photoshoot. I'm off to dream about having my own DSLR and getting to do this for a living.

Thankful Lately

+ I am thankful for a loving partner who supports me, encourages me, and accepts my faults better than I do myself.
+ I am thankful for back-rubs to help me sleep in the middle of the night, cute thoughtful texts, help with the chores, and kisses at the end of a long day.
+ I am thankful for all the devices I am far too reliant on and far too ungrateful of. Technology is awesome, people.
+ I am thankful for silly tv shows that let you take your mind of things for a little while.
+ I am thankful for warm puppy snuggles.
+ I am thankful for midol and my rice bag.
+ I am thankful for my kind mother and her friendship. I am thankful for her wisdom, her generosity, her loving advice, and her craftiness (I get it from her).
+ I am thankful for cozy piles of blankets, warm tea, scarves, sweaters, and my love of reading.
+ I am thankful for a creative mind and the ability to express it in many different outlets.
+ I am thankful for autumn leaves, halloween everywhere, and pumpkin flavored everything.

Leave it to a few extra long, tiring, busy days to remind me just how great I have it. I love you all xxo.

Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins with Nutella Cream

These muffins are so ridiculous. Honestly, I was kind of surprised by how good they are. I mean, I thought they would be delicious, don't get me wrong. They incorporate pumpkin, Nutella, and cream cheese (all the good things in life), so how could they not be? But these are some sort of next level satisfying goodness. They were probably sent here by the gods. Or aliens. I swear, these muffins must exist in their own parallel universe for if they were to exist in ours the fabric of the universe would likely be torn to pieces (do to too much goodness existing at once). You will certainly travel to a different time and space while eating this. Too much? I don’t even know.

I’d never made/had a doughnut muffin before, so maybe that is why I was so surprised by these. They are little denser than a regular muffin would be, quite like the consistency of a cake doughnut or an ‘old-fashioned’ doughnut. The pumpkin keeps the mixture nice and moist with an extra little surprise of creamy Nutella in the center.

I mainly followed this recipe, but changed it up slightly and added a delicious Nutella cream layer.

PUMPKIN DOUGHNUT MUFFINS WITH NUTELLA CREAM, makes 12+

For the Batter:
1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
3 cups (organic, unbleached) all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/3 cup buttermilk
15 ounce can of pumpkin puree
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs

For the Nutella Cream:
1/2 cup Nutella
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

For the Sugar Topping:
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place liners (aluminum liners work best) in a muffin tray.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. Slowly add the pumpkin puree and the buttermilk until combined thoroughly. In a separate bowl, combine together the dry ingredients; flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves.With mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture (in three or four portions).
3. Let the batter sit an combine the Nutella and cream cheese in a small bowl. If not combining easily, microwave up to 30 seconds to soften.
4. Spoon a bit batter into each muffin cup (fill about 1/3 of the way). Then add a spoonful (about a tablespoon) of the Nutella cream to each cup. Flatten this layer a bit, if you'd like. Finish with another layer of batter. I had a bit a batter left over and made 9 mini muffins (without the Nutella cream), this probably would have made 3 more normal sized muffins.
5. Bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in a muffin comes out clean.
6. Meanwhile, combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and melt butter.
7. Let muffins cool 10 minutes, then working with one at a time, remove muffins from pan and brush the top with a thin layer of butter. Place upside down in the bowl of cinnamon sugar mixture and twirl to coat. Let muffins cool completely on a wire rack.
8. Enjoy! Keep in an airtight container to keep moist and fresh. If eating these the next day (or later, if they last that long), I recommend sticking in the microwave for just 10 secs to war up that Nutella layer again.

This recipe in a little involved and time consuming, but so worth it. Now I'm just sad because I already ate them all.

Weekend Wears: Autumn Leaves and Polka Dots

Want to hear a story? I'm sure I've mentioned before that I am one of those people to hold onto clothes for years. I'm not a hoarder, I just rarely shop and carefully select my pieces. I've had this polka dot dress since I was 15. Yep, this pretty thing has stuck around with me for almost 8 years. My mom helped me pick it out (and bought it for me) for a school dance/celebration. Around these parts, 7th-9th grade is in Junior High (not middle school) and 10th-12th at High School. At the end of every school year, at South Junior High, an event was put on for the 9th graders who would be moving on to Borah (our High school). This is the dress I wore to that Freshman Farewell. And I must say that I'm pretty proud that at 15 I picked out a dress that would still be a staple in my wardrobe so many years later. It's just one of those classic pieces I never tire of. And it has held up remarkably well considering how often I wear it.

Dress: Very old, but if I remember right it was purchased at Macy's. Tag says Love Tease.
Belt: From a different dress
Cardigan: Target (similar)
Scarf: Forever 21, years ago (similar)
Tights: Target (same, but different colors)
Boots: Modcloth

Do you have any aged pieces in your wardrobe that you still wear regularly?

P.s. My sister took these for me this weekend down by the river in Star. Weren't the leaves so perfectly golden and yellow for us? And isn't my sister so so lovely? The answer is yes.

Artsy Fartsy: Sarah McNeil

I've had my eye on New Zealand based artist Sarah McNeil for a while now. She creates such lovely drawings that are sweet, delicate, and a bit strange. A perfect combination. Her whimsical portraits are full of simple little details that transport a once simple sketch into it's own fantasy world. They exhibit a sort of child like innocence as well, that for some reason makes me want to eat an ice cream cone, ride around on a bicycle without a care, and blast old school Eisley tunes in my ear.

P.s. She has some originals for sale (here), and she also does pet portraits that are simply adorable. I should save up and get one of little Pippin.

All images via Sarah McNeil's flickr: one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten

Podcast Appreciation: What I'm Listening To

Do you listen to podcasts? Tell me I'm not the only one. I love listening to them while working as an alternative to music. They can be informative or comedic or entertaining. Podcasts are great because they are for everyone. No matter what you are passionate about or what you may enjoy, I'm sure there is a podcast out there for you. I thought it would be fun to share just a few of my favorites with you, because if you read my blog we may have similar interests and you may just enjoy them too!

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For Comedy: The Bugle
Powerhosing Premium-Calibre Satirical Hogwash Over Planet Earth Since 2007

source / source

Hosted by John Oliver (of The Daily Show fame) and Andy Zaltzman (a Britist comedian), The Bugle is full of political satire, comedic rants, and deep insights gained casually while laughing. You often catch yourself going "Yes, exactly" and "But really, though." Their recent episodes discussing the government shutdown and various members of congress's (mostly talking about Ted Cruz and Boehner here, obvi) shenanigans during it were so spot on,  and a billion times more worth listening to than any news coverage of the shutdown. But the U.S isn't the only political system these two Brits critique. No world power is left untouched. The Bugle is worth a listen if you like to laugh while also being told how terrible the world is.

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For Sci-fi/Fantasy: Sword & Laser
A science fiction and fantasy-themed book club, video show and podcast.

source / source

Started by Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt, Sword and Laser is a great place for both Science Fiction and Fantasy lovers. The pair talks about the latest in Science Fiction and Fantasy news, bring up the latest topics from their goodreads fourm, and discus their book of the month (the book this month is Boneshaker by Cherie Priest). This podcast is fairly new to me, but I've been familiar with Frogpants Studios a while and knew this was right up my ally immediately. I was hooked after the first episade I listened to. Veronica and Tim both are insightful, hilarious, and excited about all topics they discus. They begin every episode with a drink (which I love), and feature authors and interesting topics regularly. This isn't your typical book club! The only downside is that my "to-read" book list has gotten rather long since listening.

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For Something Completely Different: Welcome to Night Vale
Community radio updates for the small desert (fictional) town of Night Vale.

source / source

Featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events from the seemingly supernatural town of Night Vale. There are many strange goings-on. The community radio reporter, Cecil Baldwin likely has a third eye as he has the ability to report the news precisely as it is happening. Some of these strange goings-on include Old Lady Josie and the angels that certainly don't exist (but affect the plot),  an ancient civilization underneath lane five at the bowling alley that is preparing to do war against the town, the town's children disappearing and reappearing unharmed and well-behaved, the dog park where dogs and humans aren’t allowed but mysterious hooded figures are... Cecil never finds these events or happenings to be particularly strange or out of the ordinary, but the scientist Carlos does. Each episode is unique and exciting as a listener trying to figure out the events that are happening or how a mystery will unfold. I am obsessed with Night Vale and I don't see it stopping anytime soon.


You can download the latest episodes of all these podcast in the iTunes App Store or listen to them on the podcast's website. If you give any of them a try, be sure to let me know what you think! Are you a podcast listener? Share your favorites with me in the comments!

Lace Dress 4 Ways for Fall/Winter

Yesterday I had a little impromptu photo shoot at home. I've been meaning to put this post together for awhile, but it always seemed like it was going to be a huge hassle to take good pictures for four different outfits so I put it off. Finally I decided to just take them in the backyard, to make wardrobe changes simple. But it was super super windy. And really bright, and then really dark (thanks clouds). I tried my best to edit these light discrepancies, but I apologize for weird color changes that resulted from these corrections (I'm still new to this photo editing business). Thanks Will, for playing camera man.

You've seen me wear this dress before, and as I mentioned it is one of my all time favorite clothing items. When I purchased it a year ago, I had no idea it would become such a stable in my wardrobe. I thought it would be fun to share with you a few different ways I like to wear it. Now that Fall is definitely here (and it is only getting colder), I am using full advantage of my wardrobe. I love to layer pieces in unexpected ways, which comes in handy when I want to wear a dress. Which is always; I'm wearing a dress 90% of the time. My dresses are my favorite clothing items and what I feel most cute and comfortable in, so I don't let cold weather stop me from wearing them. If anything, cold weather encourages more creativity in my daily outfits.

I hope you like what I've come up with, and perhaps it will encourage you to continue to wear some of your favorite dresses well into the cold seasons. It's all about the layers, ladies.

Pair it with Bold Colors:

Dress: Bohme, last year

Coat: Target, years ago (similar)

Scarf: Forever 21, years ago (similar)

Tights: Urban Outfitters (similar)

Boots: ModCloth 

Bold colors aren't reserved for just summer, you can wear then whenever you want! Shocking, I know. Fall and Winter clothes can be a bit devoid of color, but don't be afraid to add color again if you feel like it. In fact, I like putting together a bright, bold ensemble on particularly cold and dreary days. This mustard coat I own really comes in handy. Mustard is a great Fall color and instantly adds a bit of happiness/sunshine unknowingly to my outfit/day. Add even more color with a coordinating scarf and a bold pair of tights.

Try Out Some Unconventional Layers:

Dress: Bohme, last year
Skirt: Target, last year (similar / similar)
Tights: Target (similar)
Boots: Target (similar)

Adding layers doesn't always have to mean piling on sweaters and coats. If it's a nice Fall day, try pairing your dress with something you've never tried before, like putting a dress underneath or a skirt over (and wearing your dress like a shirt). You may be surprised at what you come up with and by how much you like it. I love this skirt, but I never know what to pair it with and usually opt for a plain blouse. I love the new option I have created! Down play the flowery, flowy, feminine feel by adding a pair of boots.

Add Just a Touch of Men's Wear:

Dress: Bohme, last year
Men's shirt: borrowed
Belt: Came with this dress
Tights: Target
Oxfords: Urban Outfitters (similar, though mine were not cow hide and were much cheaper)

This has to be my favorite of the four looks. I really love all of these outfits, but I feel this one is the greatest reflection of my style. Simple and sweet. I put the lace dress over a men's button up shirt and rolled the sleeves up for a casual look. I will say, though, that wearing a shirt under something it is much larger than (my dress) is a bit difficult and would probably require a lot of adjusting through out the day, as it kept bunching up (especially around the shoulders). I loved this color combination, though, and couldn't resist. If you have a button up of your own that fits you well, it may be a better option. Wear with plain black tights and polish everything off with a bow belt and oxfords.

Get All Cozied Up:

Dress: Bohme, last year
Turtleneck: H&M, last year (similar / similar)
Coat: Old Navy (similar)
Tights: Target
Flats: 1318 Fashion

I wear this outfit all the time in the butt-cold depths of winter. This super chunky H&M turtleneck is a cold weather must-have, for me. It is so incredibly cozy and I'll pull it over just about everything. Pairing it with dresses and skirts is my favorite, though. I think it is a bit unexpected and a bit juxtaposed as well. The delicate lace really contradicts and balances out the chunky knit wonderfully. Add a coat of a contrasting color and some golden toes and you're set.

How would you wear this lace dress for Fall/Winter? And do you try to stay fashionable in the cold?